Each month we’ll bring you a note from one of our therapists. It might be something they’re reading, learning or just something they want to share.
This month’s note is from Jodi Hook, PT, MS:
In a class I’ve been taking, a teacher mentioned how many, if not all, of her patients get a great benefit and/or relief to their physical signs and symptoms from incorporating up to 10 minutes of meditation a day as a part of their home program. It was not to dismiss the importance of physical therapy but rather, emphasize the importance of recognizing that we are not just our physical body. Our daily stresses, tensions, and emotions play a strong role in our physical outcomes. We have many things that increase stress in our daily lives—our families, our jobs, our health, the general condition of things around us, and physical and emotional pains.
We have various obligations with numerous things pulling our attention in 100 different directions. And we hurt. My question to you is… Are you spending any time deep breathing, relaxing, or meditating during your day? Are you stopping to take even 3 minutes (let alone 10) of your day to focus and relax your body. To breathe easy. To let tension go. To focus your mind.
I challenge you to try it today and every day for the next 3 weeks. Your focus should be on breathing, not on “not thinking.” Try to focus on the tension in your toes and then take a deep breath into your lower rib cage (think about expanding the ribs around your waist in a complete 360 circle) before exhaling and releasing the tension. Then move up to your ankle, calves, knees, thighs, hips, pelvis, low back, mid-back, shoulders, fingers, wrist, elbows, upper arms, neck, face, jaw, and head.
Challenge yourself to take those 20 breaths for you each day. Slow down. Focus on the breath and the present moment. You are so worth that time… and so much more.